WATCHTOWER SALES!

by Kent 50 Replies latest jw friends

  • MacHislopp
    MacHislopp

    Hello everyone,

    with the intention of giving an overall

    financial’ situation of 2 WTS Societies,
    I have listed together the informations :

    From this link http://www.guidestar.org : we do get

    Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Florida, Inc.

    900 RED MILLS RD

    WALLKILL,NY 12589
    Program / Activities

    Information currently not available in database

    Financial Info

    Assets: $0

    Income: $0

    This organization files an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

    ----------------------------
    Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

    25 Columbia Hts

    Brooklyn,NY 11201 http://www.watchtower.org
    Information in this report was supplied by the nonprofit organization within the last two years.

    Who We Are
    The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is a non-profit religious organization dedicated to teaching members and others outside the organization about God (Jehovah). We strive to maintain high moral standards that correspond to what Jehovah sees are appropriate. We have houses of worship (Kingdom Halls) in 234 lands around the world.
    Program / Activities

    Religion Related, Spiritual Development N.E.C.

    Location(s) Served

    All Countries and Areas of the World (234 Lands)

    Contact Info

    Tel: (718) 625-3600

    [email protected]
    Contact: Mr. Aaron Chandler, Baptised Jehovah's Witness

    Financial Info

    Assets: $0

    Income: $0

    This organization is not required to file an annual return with the IRS because it is a church.
    It makes its audited financial statements available to the public upon request.
    Chief Executive: Mr. Milton Henschel

    No. of Board Members: 13

    No. of Full Time Employees: 0

    No. of Part-Time Employees: 0

    No. of Volunteers: 0

    more about leaders
    EIN: 11-1753577

    Year Founded: 1879

    How to Help

    This organization is seeking funds from contributions. These funds will be used for unrestricted operating expenses, special projects and building improvements.

    -------------------------------
    Charitable Trust Agreement fbo Watchtower Society Louis R And

    PO Box 1308

    Milwaukee,WI 53201

    Program / Activities

    Named Trusts/Foundations N.E.C.

    Financial Info

    Fiscal Year: 1997

    Assets: $6,772

    Income: $120,397

    This organization files an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
    ------------------------------

    Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York

    318 S Ash

    Cortez,CO 81321
    Program / Activities

    Information currently not available in database

    Financial Info

    Assets: $0

    Income: $0
    This organization is not required to file an annual return with the IRS because it is a church.

    -------------------------
    Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

    2236 NW 20TH ST

    OKLAHOMA CITY,OK 73107
    Program / Activities

    Information currently not available in database

    Financial Info

    Fiscal Year: 1999

    Assets: $0

    Income: $0

    This organization files an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

    00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

    ***Then from this link

    http://www.newsday.com/business/printedition/ny-cvtop52369349sep17.story?coll=ny%2Dbusiness%2Dprint

    ...a surprise ! :

    Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York

    25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, 11201

    718-560-5000

    www.jw-media.org

    Revenue: $951 million

    Industry: Publishing

    President: Milton Henshel

    Employees: 3,415

    It takes a lot of printing to supply more than 6 million Jehovah's

    Witnesses with the materials for their ministry. One publication,

    Watchtower, now has an average print run of 23 million copies twice

    per month, an increase of 7.5 percent over last year.

    "Our report for the year is different from a Wall Street company," said

    vice president George Couch. Indeed, the company's employees are

    volunteers who live and work in the Brooklyn complex.

    °
    °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
    To give a more accurate idea :

    $ 951,000,000.= are equivalent to:

    Euros ………………….1,033,917,690.=

    GBP…………………… 648,659,982.=

    DM……………………. 2,022,168,360.=

    FB……………………..41,708,102,000.=

    ITL…………………2,001,940,590,000.=

    SEK……………………...9,983,122,500.=:

    GRD……………………352,307,460,000.=

    NOK ………………………8,267,613,600.=

    ATS ……………………..14,227,055,100.=

    NLG ………………………2,278,453,350.=

    FIM ……………………….6,147,397,140.=

    FRF……………………….6,782,056,550.=

    AUD ………………………1,894,049,640.=

    CAD ………………………1,491,738,600.=

    ESP…………… ……….172,029,243,000.=

    PTE ……………………207,281,862,000.=

    DKK………………………7,696,538,100.=

    CHF………………………1,535,199,300.=

    NZD………………………2,306,574,420.=

    MXN…………………….. 8,984,097,000.=

    JPY ……………………111,828,090,000.=

    HKD……………………….7,417,134,300.=

    (Rates taken on the Exchanges Rt. For the

    17 september2001 )

    000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
    The following information has been graciously provided by Expatbrit
    on the 14 May 2001 :

    Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

    Pensylvania Reg. # 11-1857820

    Year Ended August 31, 1998

    BALANCE SHEET...............................1998 / 1997

    Assets

    Cash and short-term investments........$296,522,535 / 209,383,368

    Current receivables......................10,849,287 / 7,078,760

    Long-term receivables...................277,421,320 / 267,435,970

    Property and equipment..................120,697,680 / 120,547,679

    TOTAL ..................................705,130,822 / 604,445,777

    Liabilities

    Accounts payable & accrued liabilities...$2,414,924 / 794,524

    Conditional donations.....................7,489,654 / 8,743,636

    Long-term payables.......................61,002,396 / 37,503,266

    TOTAL LIABILITIES........................70,906,974 / 47,041,426

    NET ASSETS.............................$634,223,848 / 604,445,777

    COMBINED STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

    Revenues
    Donations................................47,443,713 / 54,722,984

    Interest.................................24,925,594 / 20,504,081

    Kingdom Hall Assistance Fund..............3,218,791 / 3,900,595

    Royalties, Rent and Other.................3,519,062 / 2,928,113

    TOTAL REVENUES...........................79,107,160 / 82,055,773

    Expenses

    Kingdom Hall Assistance ..................2,123,945 / 2,485,514

    Relief Fund..................................21,182 / 170,507

    Convention Fund.................................430 / 0

    Administrative Services.....................142,106 / 14,304

    TOTAL EXPENSES............................2,287,663 / 2,670,325

    CHANGE IN NET ASSETS.....................76,819,497 / 79,385,448

    Net Assets At Beginning of Period.......557,404,351 / 469,616,477

    Prior period adjustment...........................0 / 8,402,426

    NET ASSETS AT END OF PERIOD............$634,223,848 / 557,404,351

    °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
    Again to give a more accurate idea :

    $ 634,223,848.= are equivalent to:

    Euros ………………….686,908,823.=

    GBP…………………… 433,360,715.=

    DM……………………. 1,343,476,377.=

    FB……………………..27,709,810,720.=

    ITL…………………1,330,043,516,117.=

    SEK……………………..6,692,456,888.=

    GRD…………………234,064,116,447.=

    NOK …………………..5,485,402,061.=

    ATS ………………….9,452,091,696.=

    NLG …………………1,513,746,453.=

    FIM ………………….4,084,173,260.=

    FRF………………….4,505,824,301.=

    AUD ………………..1,280,225,232.=

    CAD ………………..996,238,820.=

    ESP…………… 114,292,211,200.=

    PTE ……………137,712,829,459.=

    DKK………………5,109,497,586.=

    CHF………………1,017,104,785.=

    NZD………………1,543,872,086.=

    MXN…………… .5,983,267,782.=

    JPY ……………74,407,141,847.=

    HKD……………4,496,565,480.=

    (Rates taken on the Exchanges Rt. For the

    17 september2001 )

    0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

    °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
    Please don’t get headaches....

    Many thanks to Kent and Expatbrit !!

    Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp

    " One who has an accurate knowledge
    of God's Word will have no problem
    in refuting false religious ideas".

  • MacHislopp
    MacHislopp

    Hello everyone,

    someone requested an addition:

    the statements from the WTS in the U.K. !

    I'll post it, with the exchange's rates.

    Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp

    " One who has an accurate knowledge
    of God's Word will have no problem
    in refuting false religious ideas".

  • Teirce
    Teirce

    Relief Fund..................................21,182 / 170,507

    Convention Fund.................................430 / 0

    <IMG SRC= http://www.ezboard.com/image/emoticons/indifferent.gif>;

    LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I'd still like to know who the Donald Trumps are that live high on the hog and have a life that makes it worth forking out all this spiritual drivil at the proper time. I mean, it can't just spit out of a computer, right? Do they have investment in mainframes? Please say I didn't spend my life listening to a Prophesy-o-Tron 2000. I want to know that some old white guy is getting laid blind somewhere by 10 pioneer hotties. :)

  • Kent
    Kent

    Maybe you should check out this address: http://watchtower.observer.org/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=WO&Date=20010916&Category=JWANDSOCIETY9&ArtNo=10916002&Ref=AR

    Me thinks that will be interesting. I will also publish the 2000 figures!

    Once again - thanks for the info! Without anyone sending me facts, it wouldn't be easy :)))

    Yakki Da

    Kent

    I need more BOE letters, KMs and other material. Those who can send it to me - please do! The new section will be interesting!!

    Daily News On The Watchtower and the Jehovah's Witnesses:
    http://watchtower.observer.org

  • MacHislopp
    MacHislopp

    Hello Kent,

    thanks for the excellent link about
    " the TRUST ". I'm waiting for the rest!

    Meanwhile as promised, here is a
    further addition to the financial statements
    of some of WTS ' societies, this one - IBSA -
    it is based in England :

    IBSA trustee reports and financials

    INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION.
    DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES
    S.A. Hardy President

    J.S. Andrews Vice-president

    M.G. Henschel (Resigned 3/11/99)

    L.A. Swingle (Resigned 3/11/99)

    J.A Wynn

    J.D. Dutton (Appointed 3/11/99)

    REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

    Year Ended 31st August 2000.
    Objects and activities

    The principal activities of the Association are to support congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses and others, in connection with their spiritual and material welfare, in Britain and abroad, within the charitable purposes of the Association. This is achieved mainly by the provision of facilities for the printing and distribution of Bibles and Bible based literature, the housing of volunteers engaged in this activity, the promotion of the Christian religion by purchasing and distributing religious literature free of charge and by holding conventions for Christian education.
    Governance

    The four Trustees of the Association also have key managerial roles at the charity headquarters. They meet every week, and at the same time confer closely with the Trustees of Watchtower Society of Britain, as the activities of the two charities are closely related. Their decisions are then based on these joint strategy meetings.
    Reserves policy

    The Association has a reliable donation base, being primarily the 1,400 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the U.K. Hence, we can plan confidently with relatively small reserves, having in mind that we charge Watch Tower Society for the cost of running the HQ complex, and we respond to the need for funds overseas, after filling our domestic requirements. When it comes to relocation, we are confident that Watch Tower Society will be able to underwrite any costs that we cannot meet ourselves.

    Investment policy

    Funds are invested with several major financial institutions, using money market instruments. Donated stocks and shares are managed or sold, according to professional advice on the soundness of the institution and in harmony with our Christian principles.
    Relationship with connected charities

    The Association works closely with Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain and The Kingdom Hall Trust. It permits Watchtower Society to use it’s premises for the Society’s charitable work and provides accommodation for the volunteers. A service and maintenance charge is made. The Association purchases religious material from the Society and donates these to congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Association makes donations to The Kingdom Hall Trust, enabling it to further its work, primarily in the French speaking world.

    Review of the year and financial position

    The financial results of the year’s activities are shown on page 5. The direct charitable expenditure included the purchase of Bibles and Bible study aids, from Watchtower Society of Britain, at a cost of £3,033,127. These were then distributed free, through congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The charity was also able to make donations of cash and goods to overseas charities, primarily in the developing world totalling £3,228,277 and £2,108,090 to The Kingdom Hall Trust, all of this to assist in the worldwide work of Jehovah’s Witnesses, advancing the Christian religion.

    The work of the Association continued to increase, because of the need to provide still larger facilities for Watch Tower Society, due to the demand for its printed matter. Further residential accommodation has been purchased, financed in part by a loan from Watch Tower Society. Internal alteration and upgrading of the Association’s buildings at Watch Tower House and IBSA House has been undertaken, in order to cope with the growing community of volunteers and increased work-load. This is scheduled for completion in early 2001.
    The search has continued for a suitable site to relocate entirely. Funding alternatives are being considered, such as a short term sale and leaseback arrangement for the present property. Watch Tower Society would be closely involved with the relocation, and is willing to assist us in any way necessary, to finance it.

    By order of the Trustees

    S.D. SMITH

    Secretary
    February 2001.
    STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES: 2000/1999
    INCOMING RESOURCES

    Donations and contributions £7,491,176 / 7,308,504

    Convention donations 515,219 / 545,844

    Legacies 1,063,269 / 262,521

    Interest and dividends received 359,742 / 360,521

    Mortgage interest received 0 / 7,546

    Service charges made to WT Society 2,086,774 / 1,806,016

    TOTAL INCOME 11,516,180 / 10,290,952

    RESOURCES EXPENDED

    Costs of literature 3,280,248 / 3,631,021

    Donations made 5,594,116 / 3,942,770

    Operating expenditure – charged to

    WT Society of Britain 1,671,717 / 1,730,116

    Depreciation 738,520 / 492,987

    Interest payable on connected

    charity loan 128,267 / 0

    TOTAL 11,412,868 / 9,796,894

    NET INCOMING RESOURCES 103,312 / 494,058

    OTHER RECOGNIZED GAINS

    Realized (loss) on disposal of

    Freehold properties (29,524)/ (27,388)

    Other gains 7,499 / 0

    Gains on stocks and shares 111,130 / 96359

    Donated overseas properties 1,718,750 / 10,091,054
    NET MOVEMENT OF FUNDS 1,911,167 / 10,654,083
    Fund balances brought forward 40,928,440 / 30,274,357

    FUND BALANCES AT 31 AUGUST 2000 42,839,607 / 40,928,440

    BALANCE SHEET: 2000 / 1999

    FIXED ASSETS
    Land and buildings 26,978,051 / 23,373,757

    Overseas properties 13,096,994 / 10,091,054

    Fixtures and fittings 41,475 / 37,315

    Plant and machinery 624,712 / 506,450

    Motor vehicles 209,109 / 131,534

    TOTAL FIXED ASSETS 40,950,340 / 34,140,110

    INTANGIBLE ASSETS
    Copyrights 2,000 / 2,000
    INVESTMENTS
    Quoted investments 507,008 / 275,546

    CURRENT ASSETS
    Stocks on hand 97,487 / 116,860

    Debtors and accrued income 1,052,703 / 705,433

    Building society and bank deposits 5,239,416 / 5,874,255

    Cash at bank – current accounts 1,323 / 14,105

    Congregation contributions in transit 152,943 / 100,635

    Creditors falling due within one year (672,767)/ (300,524)

    NET CURRENT ASSETS 5,871,105 / 6,510,784
    Creditors falling due after

    more than one year 4,490,845 / 0

    TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES 42,839,607 / 40,928,440

    NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
    3. PERSONNEL

    The association has no employees but engages only volunteers providing them with free board, lodging and an allowance for personal and other expenses. During the year there was an average of 417 (286 in 1999) persons engaged. The trustees received no payments or re-imbursements in their capacity as trustees.
    7. FIXED ASSETS

    The net book values of land and buildings comprise freehold properties at £26,764,936 and leasehold property with a right to purchase, at £213,115. The Association’s interests in land and buildings situated in Britain had been valued at £37,798,000.

    000000000000000000000000000

    (Thanks to - Expatbrit 's - posted on 20 mai 2001)

    Now as usual the currency's conversion rates:

    42,839,607 .= British Pounds are equivalent to:

    Euros……..…..67,903,949.=

    $ ………..…..62,695,808.=

    DM…….…..132,808,530.=

    FB…….....2,739,236,294.=

    ITL…....131,480,633,683.=

    SEK……..…661,578,709.=

    GRD…..23,138,264,259.=

    NOK …….542,256,046.=

    ATS …..….934,380,310.=

    NLG …..…149,640,474.=

    FIM …..…403,738,435.=

    FRF……..445,420,489.=

    AUD …....126,555,877.=

    CAD …...... 98,482,575.=

    ESP……11,298,286,237.=

    PTE......13,613,517,049.=

    DKK..........505,096,241.=

    CHF…..…100,545,247.=

    NZD……..157,618,525.=

    MXN……591,472,256.=

    JPY … 7,355,472,239.=

    HKD…..488,989,687.=

    (Rates taken on the Exchanges Rt. For the
    17 september2001 )

    *************************

    Greetings , J.C.MacHislopp

    " One who has an accurate knowledge
    of God's Word will have no problem
    in refuting false religious ideas".

  • deadlyskilz
    deadlyskilz

    I was a witness for 7 years.The topic is interesting.Being a witness for the 7 years I was involved in alot of the organizations activities.The organization prints millions of copies of literature for the witnesses and for individuals seeking information "free".The halls(churches) are built by volunteers within the church.The Binderies the literature is produced in is run by volunteers.Absolutely no members of the organization receive a salary.All donations are used in the building of new churches,cost of literature,church expenses i.e lights gas,and ministerial service.All moneys that are given to the organization are on a donation basis.If this is a financial witch hunt why not try the other religions that actualy PAY THE LEADERS TO TEACH GODS WORD.I always thought men of god should never pray on us as followers.Think about this the next time the collection basket gets passed to you in your church.And look at the vehicle your pastor or preacher is driving.Ask your preist what he claimed in taxes last year for his salary in the name of jesus.Please dont take my words offensively they are not meant that way.It just makes me angry when people try to blanket the real truth.

  • Dan B
    Dan B

    "Being a witness for the 7 years I was involved in alot of the organizations activities."

    You think 7 years makes you an expert? I was in for 30 years, and there are others here who were in longer. So your boasting of 7 years is wasted here.

    "The organization prints millions of copies of literature for the witnesses and for individuals seeking information "free"."

    The information is not "free". When the publisher picks up his literature supply, he or she is expected to deposit a contribution in the box.(For expected contributions I refer you to a KM from 1995 which actually itemized the price of each item. For example a CD-Rom from the WT should exact a $100 "contribution") Perhaps other posters still have that KM and could quote from it. Furthermore, once these items are "placed", a plea for a donation is then required (separate and distinct from the literature, of course, for tax purposes). These contributions are then expected to be deposited in the box. So if everything is done as expected, this "free" literature is paid for twice.

    "Absolutely no members of the organization receive a salary"

    If I remember correctly, special pioneers receive money from the Society on a regular basis. (Although I seem to remember it not being very much)

    "All donations are used in the building of new churches,cost of literature,church expenses i.e lights gas,and ministerial service."

    Prove that.

    "I always thought men of god should never pray on us as followers."

    There is more than one way to "prey" on us as followers. The financial aspect is only one way. The WT Society is a master of this art.

    "Think about this the next time the collection basket gets passed to you in your church."

    Since my wife is Catholic, I have had to attend a few functions at a variety of Catholic churches. I was shocked to find that what I had been taught my whole life about how the collection plate is used in the Catholic church was not true. There were not large openings to let the change fall through to the floor. They didn't coerce you to contributing by intimidation (holding it in front of you until you donated). Yes, these were all things I was taught at the local KH. The fact was, that unless you made clear indication that you wanted to donate, the plate never even came down the row. I found this a lot less objectionable than a contribution box in every corner of the KH, and at the end of every row at a convention.

    "And look at the vehicle your pastor or preacher is driving"

    Seems to me the CO's are driving pretty nice cars, courtesy of the local brothers. Why don't you take a look at www.circuitleasing.com.

    "Ask your preist what he claimed in taxes last year for his salary in the name of jesus"

    When it comes to paying taxes (or not) the WT Society once again are experts at not paying Caesars things to Caesar. Why don't you examine the 1990 change to donations that happened in CAnada nad the US, and more recently in Australia.

    "It just makes me angry when people try to blanket the real truth."

    What is the truth that is being blanketed here?

    Dan

  • nelly136
    nelly136

    is that figure including the real estate?
    nelly

  • one
    one

    i have not made any calculations but just some numbers here

    the largest co in wall street are (market capital)
    ge, microsoft, cisco at least before stock market debacle

    335,000,000,000 microsoft value (stocks) true book value(what you get after selling all assets) is much less.

    wt is mostly cash and real state, no speculation here about future earning affecting stock value etc, they are not a public co. anyway.

    5,000,000,000 imho is the minimun wt is worth.

    look if they grossed 900,000,000 in a year half of it is clean profit imho.

    A resident CPA, i guess, said 10% net profit for a tipical corp. worst case or better go out of business.

    wt labor is free, and that is where most of the expenses are, payroll!!!

    being very conservative wt is netting 100,000,000 a year in ten years that is... well you know

    consider interest or gains if invested and they know how to play the stock market which was very profitable until recenrly

    they buy old buiilding for a few dollars and remodel or build with free labor, the most expensive part of a construction project..

    i better stop here, you get the picture

  • deadlyskilz
    deadlyskilz

    I'm not sure what congregation you belonged to but I personally have never felt obligated to contribute any moneys to the hall.Further more your comment about me claiming to be an expert on the subject is false so get some eyeglasses.I never claimed to be an expert on the religion.I only gave my honest opinion.As much as I do not agree with your statements I will respect them as "your honest opinion".As I have stated before it is the religous teachings you follow not the individuals.Individuals make mistakes in "every religious group".Its easy for someone to pick out people and point fingers.Try reading the actual bible and learn its principles on your own.Leave the witch trials to god.

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